Boat propelling mechanism.



. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

" G. F. BRYAN. V

BOAT PROPELLING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIO N FILED DEG. 2, 1902.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

[/VVE/VTOA @ebzyefjzyazz BY WIT/VESSEQ:

No. 730,090. I PATENTBD JUNE 2, 1903.. I 4 0'. F. BRYAN. BOAT PROPBLLINGMECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED D130. 2, '1902.

NO'MODBL. I 2 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

IHHHHHH W1 T/VESSES: [NVE/VTOR Um ra STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

ATENT, ()FFICE.

f BOAT PROPELLINGI MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,090, dated June '2,1903.

application filed December 2, 1902. Serial No. 133,602. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BRYAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Young Island, in the county of Colleton and State of SouthCarolina, have invented new and use} ful Improvements in Boat PropellingMechanism, of which the following is a specifica: tion.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in propellingmechanism for small boats; and its object is to provide hand operatedpaddles or thrust-blades adapted to automatically and alternately dipinto the water, thrust back, and then rise above the surface and assumetheir original positions.v

Another object is to employ apparatus adapted to be adjusted to boats ofdifferent widths and having means whereby the down ward strokes of thethrust-blades may be regulated. I

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construc-. tion and combination of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a boat having my improved propelling mechanismthereon. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified formof apparatus. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the adjustable guides ofthe rods of the thrust-blades. Fig.

5 is asection through one of said guides and showing a rockingbearingtherein. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one formof thrust-blade employed byme. Fig. 7 is a similar view of another form of'blade, and Fig. 8 is adetail View of a-modified form of guide for the rod of a thrust-blade.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference; 1 is a boat ofsuitable form having a slotted plate 2 bolted or otherwise securedacross the stern thereof, said plate having a slot 3 arrangedlongitudinally therein. Within this slot are mounted sliding blocks 4,from each of which extend, preferably, three parallel ears 5, havingseries of apertures 6 therein. One aperture in each ear is adapted toreceive a pivoted pin 7, which serves as a bearing for thesemicylindrical bearing-block S, loosely mounted on said pin and for thepurpose hereinafter more fully; described. Blocks 4 may be locked in anysuitable position within the slot 3 by means of set-screws 9. A standard10 is secured to each gunwale of the boat at points adjacent to thestern thereof, and within the upper end of each of" 7 crank 14 adjacentto its point of connection with arm 12, and another rod 17 is alsoconnected to said crank adjacent to the grip 15 thereon. These rodsare-arranged between the ears 5 upon blocks 4 and rest upon the rockingbearings 8, before referred to. The outer or rear ends .of the rods areconnected to L-shaped thrust-blades 18.

It will be seen that as the pivots of the two rods 16 and 17 arearranged at diametrically opposite sides of the-shaft 11 said rods willbe moved backward and forward alternately during the revolution of saidshaft. The operator sits in the stern of the boat, facing the bowthereof, and grasps the handle 15.

then revolves the shafts 11 by turning the crank 14, and the alternatemovement of the 'rods 16 and 17 and their blades 18 is thus produced.ment of parts the rods will enter, upon their working strokes with theirbladesimmersed when the pivots thereof reach their highest points, andas said pivots descend the blades will bethrust backward in the water,thereby serving to drive the boat forward. When the pivots commence toswing downward, passing the rocking bearings of the rods 16 and 17, theblades upon said rods will 'be raised out of the water and drawn back totheir original positions, when the operation will be repeated, as abovedescribed. As two alternately operating thrust-blades are arranged ateach side of the boat, it is obvious that this construction permits thealternate operation of the blades in pairs.

If desired, in lieu of employing two blades at each side of the boat asingle T'-shaped blade 19 may be used. In such case the cranks It willbe seen that bythis arrange,

14 are dispensed with and the rod of the blade pivoted to the handle 15,which is connected direct to the end of one of the arms 13. I haveillustrated this construction in Figs. 3 and 7 of the accompanyingdrawings. In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of guidebearing for therods. \Vith this construction the rocking bearing 8 may be dispensedwith and a bearing-pin 20 substituted therefor. This pin is adapted tobe placed in any one of the apertures 6 in ears 5 and extend through aslot 21, arranged longitudinally within the rods 16 and 17.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Thecombination with a shaft and a crank secured thereto; of a slottedplate, a block adjustably secured within said plate, guide-earsextending from the block, a rod mounted between said ears and secured tothe crank, and a thrust-blade at the end of the rod. p

2. The combination with a shaft having a counterbalanced crank connectedthereto; of a slotted plate, a block slidably mounted therein andadapted tobe secured in adjusted position, guide-ears extending from theblock, rods connected to the crank and-mounted between the guide-earsand adapted to be alternately operated by said crank, and thrust-bladessecured to the ends of the rods.

3. The combination with a shaft having oppositely-extending armsthereto, a connterbalance upon one of the arms, and a crank secured tothe other arm; of an adjustable guide, rocking bearings therein, rodspivoted to the crank at opposite sides of the shaft and resting uponsaid rocking bearings, and L-shaped thrust-blades at the outer ends ofthe rods.

4:. The combination with a boat having standards upon the gunwalesthereof, shafts journaled within said standards, and cranks secured tothe shafts; of a slotted plate on the stern of said boat, blocksadjustably secured within said plate, guide-ears extending from theblocks, rodsmounted between said ears and connected to the cranks, andthrustblades. at the outer ends of the rods.

5. The combination with a boat having standards on the gunwales thereof,a connterbalanced crank revolubly mounted upon each standard, and ahandle on each crank; of a slotted plate secured to the stern of theboat, blocks adjustably secured therein, guide-ears extending from theblocks, semicylindrical bearings pivotally mounted between said ears,rods pivoted to each of the cranks at opposite sides of its bearing, andthrustblades at the outer ends of the rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. BRYAN.

Witnesses:

T. A. LEGARE, G. H. BARNWELL.

